Seam-rubbing machine.



W. T. B. ROBERTS. SEAM RUBBING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZG. 1916.

3 925%, i 34; Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEET$-SHEET L .w. T. B. ROBERTS.

SEAM RUBBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZG. 1916-- 1 ,Q5, 1 34. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- nnrrnn snares rarest nn-ton.

'W'ILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAI'JI ROBERTS, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED mHOL MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATTERSON NElV JERSEY, A CORPORATIGN OF NEW JERSEY.

SEAM-RUBBING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 12, 1918.

Application filed June 26, 1916. Serial No. 105,857.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM T. B. Ronnnrs, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Seanr-Rt1bbing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for rubbing or pounding seams and is herein illustrated in connection with a machine designed to operate upon the seams in parts of the uppers of boots and shoes.

One feature of the invention comprises a support for a seam including a ridge and a substantially fiat portion into which the ridge merges, means cooperating with the ridge for feeding the seam, and means cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam. In the illustrative machine the sides of the ridge flare outwardly so that as the seam is advanced the shoe part in which the seam is located is gradually opened until a considerable extent on each side of the seam lies flat on the flat portion of the support when the rubbing or pounding tool engages the seam.

This and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying dra wings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the block or support over which the work passes in the seam-rubbing operation;

Fig. 2 is a detail front elevation of the work-feeding and guiding and the seamrubbing elements;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a front part sectional elevation of the complete machine; and

Fig. 6 is a side part sectional elevation of the machine viewed from the left hand side of F ig. 5.

In this embodiment which is more particularly intended for seam rubbing upon light work three rolls 1, 2 and 3 are provided which cooperate with a fixed block or support 4.

The fixed block 4 is detachably supported upon a standard 5 and has a somewhat convex contour in the direction of travel of the work, the rubbing or pounding roll 2 being located above the h ghest portion at the center, the feed roll above the portion which drops away toward the front of the machine, and the pressing or ironing roll 3 located above the portion which drops away toward the rear of the machine. The upper surface of the block from beneath the center of the rubbing or pounding roll to its rearward extremity has a surface 6 which is substantially flat, considered transversely to the line of travel of the work through the 7 machine, and consequently the work in the neighborhood of the seam is, in passing beneath the rubbing or pounding and pressing or ironing rolls, laid flat down uponthis portion of the support and receives the desired degree of treatment even if it should have deviatedsomewhat from its intended direction of travel beneath these rolls.

For some distance from the front of the block toward the highest point of the top of the blcck each side is beveled off to form two faces 7, 8 inclined to each other at an angle of about and meeting to form a ridge 9 which is convex, considered from front to back of the block, in accordance with the general convex contour of the block in that direction. Toward the highest point of the block the inclination of the sides changes gradually and the beveled olf faces no longer meet at the ridge but leave a flat portion 10 which gradually widens to practically the full width of the block at the highest point thereof. This form of the block permits the work to be guided with great ease and accuracy toward and under the rubbing or pounding tool. The two portions of the work which are joined by the seam are pulled one over each side of the ridge, the rough part to be rubbed down projecting freely upwardly, and the seam can with case be located upon and guided along the ridge toward the rubbing or pounding tool 2, the gradually widening flat 10 in the immediate vicinity of the tool gradually spreading the work to come flat to the tool without displacing it from the desired line of feed or unduly dis torting the material. The movement of the work over the faces of the stationary block moreover has a decided smoothing effect upon the work. To prevent undue distortion of the work and make the change from the sharp-edged ridge portion 9 to the flat work table 6 still more gradual it is also convenient somewhat. to concave or cut away in a direction from front to rear and trans- Versely the portion 10-of the top of the block between the termination of the sharp ridge and the portion immediately beneaththe tool as is indicated in Fig. 3.

The feed .roll which is located almost in contact with the rubbing or pounding roll is conveniently formed of two' parts; one of these is a cylindrical member 1 coned at the end 11 andis bored out longitudinally to receive the other which is formed of a spindle 12 passing through the bore and bearing atits end which projects out of the bore at the coned end of the first member a shortcylindrical member 13 also having a coned end 14 the apex of which is directed toward the apex of the cone 11 on the other member. The coned faces are preferably smooth, and the feeding taking place entirely by friction.

The angles of the cones are such that a parallel-sided inverted V passage is formed for the work to pass through between these coned portions and the inclined faces 7, 8 onthe forepart of the block. The cone 11 on the first cylindrical member 1 is truncated so as to leave a narrow face around the opening of the bore through which the spindle passes, and a similar face is formed by truncation of the other cone 1% so that a perpendicularly-sided groove is formed around the feed roll between the coned portions and constitutes a passage through which the upstanding portions of the work WhlCll are to be rubbed down can pass as the work travels between the feed roll and the ridge on the block 4. The two cylindrical portions 1, 13 of the feed roll are con-.

'nected to be rotated together but means are provided which allow of adjustment of the spindle 12 longitudinally in the bore to vary as desired the space between the faces on the ends of the conical portions. This adjustment is secured by means of a spindle 46 which is fixed against movement longitudinall'y of the member 1 and at one end is threaded into the spindle 12 and at the other end carries a milled nut 47, the spindle 12 being held against rotation relatively to the member 1 by engagement of a pin48 on the latter witha slot in the former.- Moreover the member 1 and the pinion fixed to it are mounted in bearings which permit a certain amount of lateral play so that the feed (l ivice can (seiner-itself uponthe Wo-r'li which is passing along the ridge on the block. The feed device is urged yieldingly toward the work by a spring 16 pressing upon the upper surface of a member 17, which has bearings 18, 19 for the member 1, and is pivoted at 20 on a carrier member 21 and provided with a slot 22 in which a limit stop 23 on the member 21 engages.

. The rubbing or pounding tool 2 is formed of the castellated or grooved end of a driven shaft 24 which is also mounted so that it is pressed upon the work by adjustable spring pressure. To this end a spring 25 is pro vided which presses upon a bracket 26, having bearings '27, 2-8 for the shaft 24, the bracket being provided with trnnnions. one of which is shown at 29. mounted in bearings in the frame. It is important to round off the edges of the projections between the grooves onthe tool so as to avoid damaging the work. To raise the tool from the work when for any reason a part only of a work piece is to be operated upon a rod 30 bears at its upper end on a lug 31 of the bracket 26 and is adjustably' threaded at its other end into a pivotal member in one arm of a lever 32. The lever 32 is mounted on a pivot 33 on the frame and at one end has a downwardly turned portion 3% acting as a limit stop. The lever 32 may be connected as convenient to treadle or other operating mechanism.

A smooth surfacedpressing or ironing roll 3 of small diameter is located close to and behind the roll 2 and is also mounted to be urged on to the work by adiustable spring pressure in the same way as the feeding roll. It has formed upon it one or more fiat faces 35 which act to permit the'forward end of a piece of work as it emerges from beneath the roll 2 to pass without hindrance beneath the ironing member as the latter rotates. r

If desired the portion of the spindle of the feed roll between the coned portions may be castellated or grooved as shown to render that part operative in feeding the work by engaging the upstanding portion of the work as the latter passes along the ridge.

T o facilitate the adjustment of the spring pressure upon the feed roll and the rubbing or pounding roll there are provided, in connection with the springs 16. 2'5 adiusting handles 36, 37 which are pivoted in supports on the frame and carry notched cams (one of which is shown at 88) adapted to lock in different. depressed positions the plungers 39. 40 which co-act at their lower 7 adj stment stli se s-P 011 h member is effected by an adjustable screw stud 41.

Under some circumstances the distance of the feeding roll or the ironing roll from the block or from each other may need to be varied and to this end the carrier members 21 and 42 of the feeding roll and ironing roll respectively are mounted to swing on the counter shaft 43 which carries the pinion from which the pinions fast to the feeding roll and ironing roll are driven. The carrier members are adjusted and set in adjusted position by a screw 44 threaded in the carrier 21 and bearing'on the carrier 42 and by two screws threaded in the frame and bearing respectively on the tops of the carrier one of these screws being shown at 45.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a scam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens. means cooperating with the ridge for feeding the seam, and means cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam.

2. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, means coiiperating with the ridge for feeding the seam, moans cotiperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam, and other means also cooperating with the flat portion for pressing or ironing the seam.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge along which the seam is guided and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens. a roll cooperating with the ridge for feeding the seam, and a fluted roll cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam. 4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge along which the seam is guided and a substantially fiat portion into which the ridge widens, a roll cooperating with the ridge for feeding the seam, a fluted roll cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam, and a roll having a fiat area for pressing or ironing the seam.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll having a cut-away portion provided with flaring sides adapted to embrace the ridge, and a pounding or rubbing roll arranged to cobperate with the fiat portion.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially fiat, portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll having a cut-away portion provided with flaring side's adapted to embrace the ridge, a pounding or rubbing roll arranged to cooperate with the fiat portion, and a pressing or ironing roll also cooperating with said flat portion.

T. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially fiat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll comprising two conical portions adapted to extend one on each side of said ridge, means whereby the distance between said portions may be varied, and means cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the scam.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a scam comprising a ridge and a substantially fiat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll comprising two conical portions adapted to extend one on each sic e of said ridge, means whereby the distance between said portions may be varied, means cooperating with the flat portion for rubbing or pounding the seam, and a roll also cooperating with the fiat portion for pressing or ironing the seam.

9. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially fiat portion into which said ridge widens, a feed roll cooperating with the ridge, a rubbing roll and an ironing roll both cooperating with the Hat portion,v and means for rotatin said rolls in a direction to advance the seam from the feed roll to the rubbing roll and then to the ironing roll.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially fiat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed member, a pounding member and an ironing member arranged to act successively upon the work, and means for operating said members.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a seam, a feed roll, a rubbing roll and an ironing roll arranged to cooperate therewith, and means whereby the distance between said rolls may be varied.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for a scam, a feed roll, a rubbing roll and an ironing roll arranged to cooperate therewith, and means for moving the rubbing roll away from the supportduring the operation of the machine.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination a support for the scam comprising a ridge formed by oppositely inclined faces and a substantially flat portlon into which the ridge widens, and mechanism for feeding a seam along said ridge and for rubbing it upon the flat portion.

14:. A work support for a seam pounding machine comprising a ridge formed by oppositelyinclined faces, and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, the outline of the ridge and substantially fiat portion being slightly convex with a concavity located near its highest portion.

15. A machine of the class described, l1aving, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, and means cooperating with the flat portion for operating upon the seam. 16. A machine oi the class described, having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll having a cut-away portion provided Copies 0! this patentinay be obtained for with flaring sides adapted to embrace the ridge, and means cooperating with the fiat portion for operating upon the seam.

17. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a support for a seam comprising a ridge and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens, a feed roll having a ent-away portion provided with flaring sides adapted to embrace the ridge, means for varying the width of the cut-away portion, and means cooperating with the fiat portion for operating upon the seam. V

18. A work support for avmachine for operating upon seams comprising a ridge formed by oppositely inclined faces and a substantially flat portion into which the ridge widens. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

